Family of missing woman, 24, last seen near coast make emotional appeal for help after ‘out-of-character’ disappearance
THE family of a woman who vanished without a trace more than a week ago have made an emotional plea for help to find her.
Leah Daley, 24, was spotted walking near the Kent coastline on the evening of Sunday May 5 and hasn’t been seen since.
Cops have put out multiple appeals to the public and urged anyone who may have seen Leah to come forward.
Her heartbroken loved ones have now pleaded for information – vowing to not give up until the 24-year-old is found.
Eerie CCTV has revealed some of Leah’s last known steps near The Warren, a coastal stretch east of Folkestone in Kent.
She could be seen carrying an Adidas backpack, wearing a dark green Parka coat, patterned leggings, white and black Converse, with her hair pinned in a bun.
Her devastated family today said: “Our youngest Leah went missing nine days ago on Sunday May 5 and has not been found.
“For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character.
“Since her disappearance we continue to work alongside police but have had no significant updates.”
They said Leah, who is around 5ft4in tall with brown shoulder-length hair and blue eyes, was last seen around 7pm at The Warren, at the bottom of the main concrete path leading down to Martello tower to the beach.
The family said she was a “lover and frequent walker” of the area since childhood, and familiar with the routes.
Cops released fresh footage of Leah from the hours earlier – walking from Tontine Street via the Sunny Sands and Wear Bay Road, while listening to music.
Her family continued: “Did you see Leah on Sunday May 5? Did you speak to Leah or notice her in The Warren after 4.30pm?
“Extensive searches of sea and land have shown no trace of Leah.”
The loved ones said no one had come forward with any further information despite it being a busy Bank Holiday Sunday the day Leah was last seen.
They continued: “People do not just vanish. Please come forward and contact the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant.
For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character
Missing woman's family
“Please refrain from speculation and rumour as it will only hinder the search.
“In the face of our suffering, we vow as a family to keep going until Leah is found.
“On behalf of Leah we thank you all.”
On Sunday Kent Police put out another plea to the public – releasing fresh CCTV of Leah.
Inspector Jay Langshaw said: “Officers will be in the area exactly a week after Leah was last seen to speak to the public and further our enquiries.
“We would urge anyone specifically who may have spoken with Leah on Sunday 5 May, between 3.30pm and 7pm in the area of Folkestone Harbour and The Warren, to come forward.
“Kent Police continues to support the family and both remain steadfast in our attempts in locating her.”
Anyone who has relevant information concerning Leah’s whereabouts is urged to call 999 quoting reference 06-1197.
Leah's family's statement in full:
Our youngest Leah went missing nine days ago on Sunday May 5 and has not been found.
For Leah not to have returned home without notifying the family, or any of her friends, is totally out of character.
Since her disappearance we continue to work alongside police but have had no significant updates.
The last signing of Lean was approximately 7pm at The Warren =- bottom of the main concrete path leading down to Martello tower to the beach.
A lover and frequent walker of The Warren since childhood, Leah is familiar with the routes and surrounding areas.
Latest images show Leah walking from Tontine Street to The Warren via the Sunny Sands and Wear Bay Road, while listening to music on her JBL earbuds (3.30pm-4.30pm).
Leah is wearing a dark green Parka coat, patterned leggings, black and white Converse trainers, a black Adidas backpack – her hair pinned in a bun.
Did you see Leah on Sunday May 5? Did you speak to Leah or notice her in the Warren after 4.30pm?
Extensive searches of sea and land have shown no trace of Leah.
No additional information, sightings, CCTV or personal items have been recovered since the busy bank holiday Sunday – densely populated with campers, large groups, fishermen, and dog walkers – when she went missing.
People do not just vanish. Please come forward and contact the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant. Please refrain from speculation and rumour as it will only hinder the search.
We thank everyone for their support and assistance over the last nine days, especially Leah’s friends and the local community who have devoted time, effort and resources to find her.
In the face of our suffering, we vow as a family to keep going until Leah is found.
On behalf of Leah we thank you all.